Palestine hails Anthony Albanese’s stance on Israel

Palestine’s representatives in Australia have lauded comments by Anthony Albanese decrying Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Energy Minister Chris Bowen at the first cabinet meeting of the new government on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

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Palestine’s representatives in Australia have lauded comments by Anthony Albanese decrying Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing the intervention by the Prime Minister as a significant “advancement” in Australia’s position on Palestine and urging the government to take “concrete action” against the Jewish state.

Mr Albanese on Monday declared Israel was making “excuses” for why aid was unable to be delivered to civilians in Gaza and accused the Netanyahu government of intentionally withholding supplies from the region, in his strongest comments against Israel in years.

“Israel’s actions are completely unacceptable,” he said. “It is outrageous that there be a blockade of food and supplies to people who are in need in Gaza. We have made that very clear by signing up to international statements.”

While peak Jewish bodies urged the government to remember Hamas shouldered the responsibility for suffering caused since October 7, 2023, the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific expressed its “appreciation” for the Labor leader.

“This statement by … Anthony Albanese … represents further advancement in Australia’s position with regards to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s punitive blockade of food and water and medicine and electricity, and all other essentials of life, characterised by Prime Minister Albanese as being ‘completely unacceptable’ and ‘outrageous’,” a statement from the delegation provided to The Australian said.

“The situation in Gaza is unbearable and necessitates immediate action to halt Israel’s ongoing brutality and violations of international law.”

The delegation stressed words were “simply not enough”, calling on the Albanese government to recognise Palestine and take “concrete action to pressure Israel and ensure accountability and adherence to International Law”.

“The General Delegation of Palestine urges the Australian government to recognise the State of Palestine without further delay as a means of safeguarding the two-state solution in accordance with international law and resolutions of international legitimacy,” the statement said.

Mr Albanese’s intervention follows Foreign Minister Penny Wong last week joining more than 20 other foreign ministers to condemn the lack of aid being allowed to flow into Gaza.

“Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change,” the joint statement read.

The steadily increasing condemnation of Israel comes ahead of a UN conference to be held in New York next month, where the recognition of Palestine is expected to be a key focus.

When asked about his position on Palestinian statehood, Mr Albanese said “what we’re dealing with here is the humanitarian crisis”. “Australia isn’t a participant in any of this. And I make this point as well, people should not bring conflict here, which some of the acts of anti-Semitism have done,” he said. “But you can be a clear opponent of all that and still be able to be critical of the actions of the Israeli government, which we have done both privately and publicly.”

Senior Jewish Liberal MP Julian Leeser said he wished Mr Albanese “would have expressed the same passion to the same degree for those hostages” that were still held by Hamas.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said his organisation agreed that the crisis in Gaza was concerning but disagreed on who was to blame.

“We share the Prime Minister’s deep concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, Australia can and must hold two truths at once: compassion for innocent lives and clarity about who is responsible for their suffering; Hamas,” he said.

“Hamas began this war with the massacre of 1200 Israeli civilians and continues to embed itself among Palestinian civilians, using them as shields and diverting aid for terror.

“Humanitarian assistance must reach those in need, it cannot be hijacked by those intent on prolonging this conflict.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the criticism of Israel and calls to recognise Palestine “distract from what should be the focus of all Western governments right now”, which was ensuring the surrender of Hamas.

“Hamas has praised world leaders that have criticised Israel’s battle tactics and views calls for recognising a Palestinian state as a validation of its October 7 atrocities which began this war,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“Such calls play right into Hamas’s strategy of isolating Israel from its Western allies no matter the cost in civilian blood.”

Mr Ryvchin noted Mr Albanese had called for the release of hostages and made clear that Hamas should play no role in the future of Gaza, but said such language was not meaningful when taken with the fierce criticism of Israel.

“Such statements are invariably tempered by scathing criticism of Israel and that is all that Hamas hears,” he said.

“If our government wishes to play a constructive role in ending the conflict it should support those Gazans bravely protesting against their murderous rulers and should lead the calls for Hamas’s immediate and unconditional surrender.”